Mitch Jeter has already had quite the January, but could the Notre Dame kicker actually outperform “the Captain” Derek Jeter in a hypothetical battle of skills? He certainly seems to think so.
Mitch Jeter shines in the playoffs
Despite a rollercoaster regular season where he made just 1-of-5 field goals in the month of November, Mitch Jeter has been nothing short of automatic in the College Football Playoff. He has nailed all five field goal attempts of 40-or-more yards, showcasing his talent when it matters most. This includes the thrilling game-winning 41-yard field goal that secured a 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl national semifinal on January 9.
Marcus Freeman explains play-calling decisions leading to game-winning field goal
Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame squad executed wonderfully during the waning moments of the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Orange Bowl, leading to the Fighting Irish clinching their spot in the National Championship Game. When Penn State’s Drew Allar was picked off by Christian Gray with less than a minute remaining, Freeman knew Notre Dame had a chance to drain the clock and kick a game-winning field goal. That’s exactly what they did, and the Fighting Irish are headed to the CFP finale due to the leg of Mitch Jeter.
“Nobody panicked. It was great communication. Riley [Leonard] kept everybody under control, and we knew we were in range where Mitch [Jeter] could make that field goal,” Freeman said in his postgame press conference. “He is a confident guy, man. There is no moment too big for Mitch Jeter. I had a lot of confidence in him, in that moment, [that] he was going to do exactly what he did, and he did a great job of doing it.”
The hypothetical showdown
Now, ahead of Monday’s CFP National Championship Game against Ohio State, the emboldened Fighting Irish kicker is confident he could outduel the New York Yankees great and first-ballot MLB Hall of Famer in a hypothetical competition where the two Jeters try their hand at the other’s skill of choice. During Saturday’s CFP National Championship Media Day event inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a SiriusXM reporter posed the question to Mitch Jeter: could he hit a baseball better than Derek Jeter could kick a field goal? The Notre Dame specialist had little doubt.
“Probably. I feel like kicking is such a more – obviously hitting a baseball is very hard – but kicking a football is such a refined skill, as is hitting a baseball as well,” Mitch Jeter said. “But I feel like every kid grows up hitting a baseball, where I don’t know if every kid grows up kicking a football.”
The challenge of hitting a baseball
That’s certainly a bold suggestion given the obvious difficulties involved in hitting a baseball. After all, the 50-year-old Derek Jeter is a 14-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion who has 3,465 career hits with a .310 career batting average. That means even Jeter, one of the most celebrated Yankees in franchise history, averaged just 3.1 hits every 10 at-bats over his 20-year MLB career. The precision and timing required to connect with a baseball is a challenge that not many can conquer, making Mitch Jeter’s assertion a fascinating topic of discussion.
Mitch Jeter in numbers
Meanwhile, Mitch Jeter is 13-of-20 (65-percent) on field goals this season and 36-of-45 for his college career between Notre Dame and South Carolina. His performance in the playoffs has certainly elevated his status, but can he maintain this momentum against a formidable opponent like Ohio State? The stakes are high, and the pressure is palpable.
The road ahead
As the countdown to the CFP National Championship Game continues, all eyes will be on Mitch Jeter. Will he continue to shine under pressure, or will the weight of expectations prove too heavy? One thing is for sure: the excitement surrounding this matchup is electric, and fans are eager to see if Jeter can deliver once again. After all, in college football, anything can happen, and the thrill of the game keeps us all on the edge of our seats.
With the championship title on the line, the showdown between the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes promises to be a memorable clash. And as Mitch Jeter prepares for the challenge ahead, his confidence and determination will be key factors in determining the outcome. Will he rise to the occasion and prove that he can indeed outshine “the Captain”? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: college football never fails to deliver drama and excitement. Get ready for an unforgettable game!
